The reputation of the American soldier is one of valor and bravery, an image that continues to be sold to young patriots in an effort to recruit them into the military. However, the reality of war and itslong-term psychological consequencesis a world apart from the strapping hero one may conjure in their mind's eye. Battle at Home examines trends of violence in American soldiers, and the contributing factors that may play into their acts of misconduct.

What could make someone capable of enacting egregiously violent crimes not only against foreign civilians during tours of duty, but friends and loved ones once home? Through interviews with legal experts, psychologists, and veterans, host Shawn Musgrave explores the role of pre-existing mental health afflictions, post-traumatic afflictions, and increasingly aggressive military instruction in creating desensitized soldiers. While one subject blames the violent misbehavior of veterans on existing psychological conditions, the more common belief is that the stresses of wartime combined alone are often enough to cause an otherwise good soldier to snap.